A Weinberg freshman said he received the “shock of his life” Saturday, when members of historically-black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha awarded him with a $500 scholarship.

“I’m surprised,” Josin Chin-Sang said. “I’m confused. My bottom lip is still twitching.”

Chin-Sang’s victory was one of the highlights of Alpha Phi Alpha’s 24th Annual Scholarship Ball. More than 250 students, faculty and administrators gathered at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Chicago for the free event, designed to celebrate the history of Alpha Mu — Northwestern’s chapter of the fraternity — and award scholarships to two outstanding high school students and one NU freshman.

Although the event happens every year, this year took on special meaning as it culminated the Alpha Phi Alpha’s Midwestern Region Retreat. The retreat brought together members from 13 states and Canada on Friday and Saturday, said Mike Blake, the region’s associate vice president.

“This ball was the best one I’ve ever been to,” said Blake, a Medill senior. “There was an overwhelming number of people from a number of states who came to enjoy the evening, and everything in a formal manner.”

Many men at the event wore suits, while the women donned evening gowns and glimmering jewelry.

But more than drawing a crowd of primarily college students practicing proper rules of etiquette, Blake said seeing the smile on Chin-Sang’s face as he received his award was “what the ball is all about.” Blake said the ball highlighted the meaningful aspects of fraternity life, subverting stereotypes he thinks are commonly associated with historically-black fraternities.

“It shows the impact the greek community has on the overall community,” Blake said. “People of all ethnicities, ages, backgrounds were all there to take pride and celebrate unity. And when people walked away, they felt that.”